Former presidential aspirant and leadership coach, Fela Durotoye; entrepreneur and leadership advocate, My-Ace China; and leadership strategist, Dr. Brian Rueben, have urged residents of Rivers State not to rely on politicians for transformation, but to take responsibility for the development of the state.

The speakers made the call on Thursday at the Strategic Elevation Conference 2026, a leadership and personal development summit held in Port Harcourt. The event, organised by Dr. Rueben and co-sponsored by My-Ace China, attracted more than 250 entrepreneurs, professionals, business owners and young people.

The trio stressed that Rivers State’s greatest asset is not its crude oil wealth or its political class, but its people, urging citizens—especially youths—to embrace leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship as drivers of development.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, Dr. Rueben said residents must stop waiting for a “messiah” and instead become active participants in shaping the future of the state.

“The prosperity of Rivers State is not in its oil. The real treasure of Rivers State is the person you see in the mirror,” he said.
He added that citizens must take responsibility for building the kind of society they desire, warning that those who fail to act risk being left behind.

“We will not fold our arms waiting for someone else to showcase Rivers State to the world. We will take responsibility for building the Rivers we desire,” he said.

Rueben explained that the conference was designed to help participants rethink their perspectives and position themselves strategically for success, noting that many individuals and organisations fail not because opportunities are lacking, but because of wrong perspectives.

According to him, “strategic elevation” involves rising above competition to perceive people, markets and opportunities differently, adding that there comes a point where individuals must evolve in thinking to progress in life and business.

He emphasised that leadership is not limited to political office holders, but begins with individuals taking responsibility wherever they find themselves.

He also noted that Port Harcourt has the potential to become a globally competitive city if its people focus on solving problems rather than merely pursuing financial gain.

Addressing the youth, Rueben said: “Our children and young people are not the leaders of tomorrow; they are the leaders of today. We must equip them with the capacity and maturity to lead now.”

Speaking earlier, My-Ace China urged young Nigerians to embrace responsibility, value creation and purposeful leadership as the foundation of prosperity.

He described Durotoye’s participation as a valuable opportunity for participants to gain practical insights into leadership, nation-building and personal development.
Delivering the keynote address, Durotoye challenged participants to become solution providers by identifying and solving problems within their communities.

He said Nigeria’s transformation depends on citizens discovering their purpose and deploying their talents to address societal challenges.
“The Nigeria of our dreams is waiting inside you for the problem you have not yet solved. Your success is tied to Nigeria’s success. Let Nigeria succeed because you found a problem and solved it,” he said.

Durotoye also commended Dr. Rueben for celebrating his birthday by investing in people’s growth through knowledge sharing rather than personal festivities, while praising My-Ace China for supporting the initiative.

Participants described the conference as impactful and transformational.
Goodluck Esogwai said the sessions broadened his understanding of leadership, describing it as influence, responsibility and decisive action for positive change.

Another participant, Precious Nwokansu, said the conference reinforced her belief that greatness is attainable regardless of background, adding that strategic relationships and learning from accomplished individuals are key to personal and professional success.